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SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE “EASTER” AS A

RELIGIOUS HOLY DAY?

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks

to God the Father through Him. Col 3:17 (NKJV)

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NO SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON EASTER

• Why?– Is it “church of Christ” tradition?– Is it an arbitrary decision handed down to

all the congregations?– Is it because churches of Christ do not

believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?

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THE NEGATIVE SIDE

• NOT BECAUSE IT IS “CHURCH OF CHRIST TRADITION.”

Our Only Guide ”If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God….” (1 Peter 4:11).

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HUMAN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

• Contrary to the will of God!

He answered and said to them, "Why do you also

transgress the commandment of God

because of your tradition? Matt 15:3 (NKJV)

Honor father and mother and whoever curses them should be put to death (Ex. 12:17).

Thus you have made the commandment of God of

no effect by your tradition. Matt 15:6 (NKJV)

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EASTER – FROM GOD OR MEN?

• Ash Wednesday• Holy Week• Palm Sunday• Holy Thursday• Good Friday• Holy Saturday• Easter Sunday

• Place ashes on forehead to symbolize death and sorrow?

• Commemorate the “last Supper?”

• Keep “lent?”

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WHEN HAS GOD AUTHORIZED US TO REMEMBER THE DEATH OF JESUS?

• Not just once a year but every week!

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same

night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is

broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in

My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the

Lord's death till He comes. 1 Cor 11:23-26 (NKJV)

Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Acts 20:7 (NKJV)

“Full well do you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:8, 9).

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Acts 12:4“And when he had apprehended him, he put him

in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to

bring him forth to the people.” KJV

Pascha = Passover

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ORIGIN OF EASTER

EostreGoddess of Spring

The Pagan festivals always coincided with the vernal Equinox on the 21st of March every year.

Though the Greek were not fully cognizant of why and when spring comes, they believed Eostre must be pleased to ensure that she

returns year after year. The festivals were lavish feasts that celebrated the booming of new

flowers, the chirping of birds, butterflies, and sunshine and in general the feeling of rejuvenation that is inherent of spring.

The Christian church however, changed the Pagan festival from a celebration of spring to a

celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In 325 A.D. the church also changed the date of the festival.

The festival was no longer held on the spring equinox. Instead, as per the Church Council of

Nicaea henceforth it was to be held on the very first Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Thus, today Easter is celebrated on different dates every year and can occur as early as

March 22nd or as late as April 25th.

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BIBLICAL WARNINGSGalatians 4:8-11But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. NKJV

Titus 1:14not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. NKJV

Colossians 2:20-22 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations — 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? NKJV

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is vital to the very existence of Christianity and the faith and salvation of every Christian!

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

1 Cor 15:14 (NKJV)

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 1 Cor 15:17 (NKJV)

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THE RESURRECTION AFFIRMED

• The record of hundreds of witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

• By men inspired by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:20; Acts 2:23-24, 32).

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV)

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GOING BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN

• Transgress = to go beyond.

• Doctrine = teaching• To go beyond or fail

to remain in what the Word of God teaches.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ

does not have God. He who abides in the

doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

(NKJV)

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GOING BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN

• Ash Wednesday• Holy Week• Palm Sunday• Holy Thursday• Good Friday• Holy Saturday• Easter Sunday

• Place ashes on forehead to symbolize death and sorrow?

• Commemorate the “last Supper?”

• Keep “lent?”

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A SCRIPTURAL APPEAL

• GO BACK TO THE BIBLE FOR ALL RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY!–People have the mistaken idea that

whatever they desire to practice in the name of religion is ok just as long as they do it to honor or please God whether in the Bible or not.

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But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the

lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But

everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. 1 Sam 15:9 (NKJV)

So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in

obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from

being king." 1 Sam 15:22-23 (NKJV)

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GOD HAS NOT CHANGED!

• Any religious practice not found in the Bible must be rejected as the human tradition that it is.

• The first consideration is has God given us permission for this religious practice?

• All the sincerity and good intentions combined will contribute nothing if I do in religion what God has not given me permission or instruction to do.

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GO BACK TO THE BIBLE

Safe

Ground

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SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE “EASTER” AS A

RELIGIOUS HOLY DAY?

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks

to God the Father through Him. Col 3:17 (NKJV)